The tin opener January 31, 2009
Posted by jonesy24 in What's happening with me....1 comment so far
My beloved flat tin opener. I’m sure you’re wondering how could such a simple device, a common tin opener… deserve the honour of a blog.
It’s because, for the life of me… I can’t work it. The tin opener completely perplexes me. I have absolutely no idea how to work it. It was actually so bad that until recently, I had been using a kitchen knife to stab open any cans of desired food.
Which brings me to my first tangent. Why on EARTH do they still make tins without the ring pull? To me, and in my current tin opener situation… it would seem that the only reason why all can goods have not converted to the highly superior ‘ring pull’ opening technology… is to ensure that the tin opener factory does not go bust. Imagine the jobs that would be lost?
Anyway…
I myself am now wondering why I didn’t ask one of my fellow flat mates – Stuart or Gordon – how to work the tin opener. But I can quickly conclude that it comes down to pride. ME? Ask for help on how to work a simple tin opener? I THINK NOT!
Now, I’m sure many of you are concerned as to my well being, especially in the area of food, proper eating, and ‘is he starving out there’? Rest assured, all is well. Thankfully, my mother still occasionally sends up food packages, including Marks and Spencers Chicken curry – which comes canned, and has the handy, genious ring pull technology.
The tin opener itself, has finally revealed it’s mystery to me. What I thought was a tin opener with only one handel, in fact has a stealthily hidden second handel!!!!!!!!! Some sneaky designer decided to hide one within the other. I personally think he should be thrown into a jail cell, along with previously mentioned heretics, false teachers, and… Dan ward.
In conclusion, there is absolutely no point to this blog what-so-ever. Other than to save me from bordom, to ’slight’ Dan Ward, and to reassure you all that I, Mark Jones, have mastered and conquered the tin opener. VICTORY!
“God, make me like Peter…” January 19, 2009
Posted by jonesy24 in Christianity, God, What's happening with me....Tags: boldness, initiative, Peter
4 comments
I think Peter rocks.
I think I’ve got a bad impression of the guy somewhere along the line (I’m thinking Sunday school). You know… the guy who denied Christ. The guy who sank when he tried to walk on water, etc, etc.
Scripture covers the good, the bad and the ugly when it comes to Peter.
I guess there’s a few things in Peter’s life I’d probably like to avoid, but at the same time there’s a lot I admire.
Just as I aspire to be like David with his faith-based optimism, I love the idea of Peter’s willingness to step out and take action.
Even though Peter gets a bit of heat for sinking when he tried to walk on water, shouldn’t he get some credit for being the only disciple who actually got out of the boat? That took initiative.
And Peter made some commitments he couldn’t keep. But I respect the fact that he was the only disciple out of the twelve to man up and speak up. He was the first to publicly identify Jesus as the Messiah.
And THEN… we see Peter chop some guy’s ear off, when they came to arrest Jesus. He couldn’t sit there and let them drag Jesus off. He felt he had to do something!
I can be pretty bold some of the times (which can get me into trouble occasionally too!), but there’s a bunch of times I’ve chickened out of decisions, etc… because I’ve lacked the ‘initiative-taking boldness’ of Peter. Decisions that require boldness. Being a Christian – truly seeking to follow God’s plan… can often require bold decisions that have associated risk.
G0d, make me like Peter.
Prosperity Gospel January 13, 2009
Posted by jonesy24 in Bible, Christianity, God, The Bible - it's quality stuff!.Tags: Joel Osteen, Prosperity Gospel, Prosperity theology
add a comment
Maybe it’s a bit unfair that Joel Osteen got the brunt of my blogging wrath. Maybe not. I’ve decided to tackle the broader subject behind my displeasure over Joel Osteen and some of the stuff he teaches – seeing as he’s definitely not the only one who teaches what is known as… *cue dramatic music*…
Prosperity Gospel!!!
So… Allow me to explain what Prosperity Theology is. Prosperity Theology is “teaching that God desires the material prosperity of those He favours”.
Now, by ‘material prosperity’… that’s not just financial prosperity, but success in relationships and good health.
This theology and teaching promotes the idea that God wants Christians to be ‘abundantly’ successful in every way. Especially financially.
*Deep Breath*
Now… apparently there’s a biblical basis for this. It’s bible verses such as Deuteronomy 8:18, Malachi 3:10, John 10:10, and 3 John 2-4. As farm as I’m concerned, they’re taken out of context.
I do believe that God blesses us with regards to finances (but we still have to be responsible), realtionships and health. But there’s a bigger picture.
Prosperity teachers are making it out to be as if we’re still living in Genesis 2.
I also know that being a Christian isn’t plain sailing. It’s not an easy thing. I don’t think it’s fair, or biblical to say that if you’re not healthy then clearly you’ve done something wrong, which is what prosperity gospel suggests. I don’t think God wants us to be the elite super rich Christians, with the giant houses and fancy sports cars… after all, Jesus himself was a carpenter. Not exactly huge income.
Anyway, I’m mincing words.
When someone teaches solely prosperity theology, and doesn’t look at the bible in it’s full context, selecting the fluffy-nice-to-hear sections, they’re only revealing a tiny part of a big picture.
I’ve seen a bunch of people who’ve been damaged by prosperity theology teaching churches. Why? Because they’re only getting a tiny part of the big picture. And it upsets me to see people questioning their faith in God, because they were misled by a leader/teacher that isn’t teaching the true gospel, the whole bible… but a Genesis 2 – before the fall of man fairytale.
“Any Gospel that cannot be preached in a Third-World country is not the True Gospel of Jesus Christ” — Dr. David Jeremiah
P.s. Here’s a few verses that counter the prosperity theology idea – 1 Timothy 6:7-10, Matthew 6:19-21, 24; Luke 16:13, Luke 18:22-25, 1 John 2:15, 1 Timothy 6:3-5, Matthew 19:21, 1 Timothy 2:9, Proverbs 22:16.
Hope that backs up what I was saying before.
“God, make me like David…” January 12, 2009
Posted by jonesy24 in Books, Christianity, God, Internship.1 comment so far
David rocks. It’s official.
I’ve been reading a book called ‘Courageous Leadership’ by Bill Hybels… (just finished it actually) and he briefly talks about David’s faith-based optimism.
David believed so deeply in the pwer of God that a giant could not intimidate him, a murderous king could not paralyze him, and genocidal enemies could not defeat him. With complete confidence, David marched in whatever direction God pointed him, fully expecting grace and power to be revealed along the way.
Even at David’s lowest point, his ‘optimism’ was strong. When he failed morally with Bathsheba and God struck their firstborn son with illness (I’m pretty ill at the moment too… swollen uvula! Eeeeek), David did not give up his optimism. Even though God said that the child’s life would be required for the father’s sins, David clung to hope. He fell on his face. He fasted and prayed for six days and nights. He could not let go of the slight possibility hat God might spare his newborn son.
We know David’s son died though.
Later, when David was asked why he’d fasted and prayed, he said “I thought, ‘Who knows? The Lord may be gracious to me and let the child live’” (2 Samuel 12:22)
Over the last year I’ve seen a lot of hopelessness. I’ve seen people who have long term illness struggling to understand why, despite prayer (and fasting?) they won’t be healed. I talked to an orphaned boy who’s hurt, hopelessness, and just plain confusion over ‘why he lost his parents’, turn to anger directed at God. I’ve had a close friend die, and I myself in that point in time lost hope. I’ve seen the homeless and addicts in complete hopelessness. I’ve had conversations with some of those people, who are desperately trying to escape reality – where they feel completely hopeless – through their addictions. I’m aware of people, who’s circumstances have wore them down to the point – in their hopelessness, that they’re ready to give up.
I think David’s got it right. He faces his share of the bad stuff, and has to do some pretty bold stuff – but he has complete hope in God. Complete optimism.
Regarding Hope… (haha… that joke will never get old)… I think for me there’s going to be circumstances and things that happen that I won’t understand. There’s going to be points where I’m going to have to either chicken out, or step forward in faith-based optimism. I think there’s going to be circumstances that are going to test me, that will most definately be some of the hardest stuff that can get thrown at me, where I’m going to have to do a David… cling to hope, trust in the fact that God is ultimately always in control, that he does have a plan.
God, make me like David.
